SAN ANGELO, Texas – In a battle of the Lone Star Conference Tournament unbeaten, Angelo State topped the St. Edward's Hilltoppers baseball team 12-4 to advance to the LSC Championship game and send St. Edward's immediately into an elimination game against Lubbock Christian.
Angelo State took advantage of early mistakes to strike first in the second. Jordan Williams led the inning off reaching second on an error in right field, then advanced on a sacrifice bunt, and finally scored on a wild pitch.
Austin Beck sparked the Rams with a leadoff double to center field, and Angelo State turned to small ball, moving him over and scoring him with back-to-back sacrifice bunts.
KYLER KERLIN responded with a two-run blast to left field, scoring MATTHEW GILES, who singled to right, to tie the game.
JARED SCHAEFFER replaced starting pitcher LUKE SHORT to start the sixth, and Angelo State opened the inning with three consecutive hits. Jacob Guerrero hit a leadoff double down the left-field line, then Tripp Clark hit an RBI single up the middle, advancing to second on the throw. Beck bunted for a single, putting runners on the corners, then stole second base shortly after Williams popped out.
Jackson Hardy drove in Clark with a groundout to first, and then Beck scored on a passed ball for the 5-2 lead.
CONNOR COX and LANCE LITTLE opened the bottom of the inning with back-to-back singles, forcing Angelo State to go to its bullpen. Austin Teel replaced Aaron Munson and struck out DAVIS DREWEK, then walked CULLEN AINSWORTH, and struck out LUKE JOHNSON. Once again, Giles came through in a clutch moment, delivering a two-RBI single up the middle to keep St. Edward's within one.
The weather caused a game delay in the seventh. When play resumed, Williams hit a three-RBI double to left field to blow the game open. COLIN JACKSON replaced Schaeffer to start the eighth and surrendered a leadoff double to Kamden Kelton. Angelo State moved him to third on a sacrifice bunt, then scored him on a Thomas Cain groundout.
Angelo State added three more runs in the ninth on a Beck solo blast and two walks with bases loaded.